Grand prize includes $25,000, a performance at Country Music Week 2019 and more
Dan Davidson, Festival Country De Lotbiniere, St Agapit, Qu. June 15, 2018
SiriusXM Canada, the country’s leading audio entertainment company, is calling on Canadians to help choose Canada’s next big country music star for the second annual SiriusXM Top of the Country competition in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA). The fate of the eight semi-finalists is in the public’s hands, with the popular vote determining which three artists move on to perform at the biggest country music events in Canada, attend song writing trips, and have a shot at the $25,000 grand prize.
Kelsi Mayne performs at Boots and Hearts – photo by Spencer Smye
Following an epic battle between the finalists onstage during Country Music Week 2018, Sudbury’s Andrew Hyatt won the inaugural SiriusXM Top of the Country competition in 2018. “The SiriusXM Top of the Country competition provided me with invaluable opportunities and opened the doors to help take my music career to the next level,” said Hyatt. “Being named the competition’s first winner was an incredible and life-changing experience for me, and my advice to this year’s contestants would be to soak up every moment, create new relationships within the industry and thank your fans for voting and supporting you each step of the way.”
The 2019 SiriusXM Top of the Country semi-finalists are:
- Dan Davidson (St. Albert, AB)
- Don Amero (Winnipeg, MB)
- Jade Eagleson (Millbrook, ON)
- Kelsi Mayne (Windsor, ON)
- Kristin Carter (White Rock, BC)
- Matt Lang (Maniwaki, QC)
- Sons of Daughters (Vancouver, BC)
- Tim & The Glory Boys (Winnipeg, MB)
Jade Eagleson performs at Algonquin Commons Theater. Photo by Jen Derbach.
Earlier this year, SiriusXM took the eight semi-finalists in studio to record their original song along with an accompanying video of the session. Beginning at 10 a.m. ET today through to May 17, country fans can watch all studio sessions and vote at siriusxm.ca/topcountry for their favourite performers once daily.
“We were blown away by the depth of talent we encountered when reviewing artist submissions for the second annual SiriusXM Top of the Country competition,” said Jeff Leake, Director, Music Programming, SiriusXM Canada. “The eight semi-finalists each offer something special to Canada’s country music scene. Canadians are going to have a tough time choosing our top three finalists during the nationwide online vote.”
Matt Langevin, Saint Agapit, Qu. June 16, 2018, Festival Country De Lotbiniere photo Ron Pettit
Once voting is complete, the top three acts will emerge as Top of the Country finalists, receiving a stage spot at one of Canada’s largest country music festivals. Finalists will also attend a SOCAN song writing trip to Nashville and an exclusive mentorship session in Toronto with influential people from across the industry.
The grand prize winner will be chosen live during Country Music Week 2019, being held this year in Calgary, AB from September 5-8. Finalists will battle it out live on stage at the SiriusXM CCMA Top of the Country Finale, before a soon-to-be-announced headlining act, airing live on SiriusXM. The winner will receive the $25,000 grand prize, plus an international SOCAN song writing camp and more.
SiriusXM Top of the Country in partnership with the CCMA is part of SiriusXM’s ongoing commitment to promoting and elevating the best in emerging Canadian music. SiriusXM continues to offer a leading platform for Canadian artists through its significant financial contributions and North American-wide reach of over 55 million listeners.
